Rotary jumping figurine toy



April 6, 1954 R M RAG@ 296749457 ROTARY JUMPING FIGURINE -TOY Filed March' 17, 1953 .\\\\\\vm\\\\\\\ O |4 5|.47 INVENTOR 40 RGCCO M. RAG@ F |63. gy/{Mwlgyl ATTQRN EY the platev I6. vThe bally Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,674,457 ROTARY JUMPINGr FIGURINE 'TOY Rocco M. Raga, Chicago, Ill. App1ica'tion'March`17, 1953, Serial No. 342,809

`10 Claims. l

This invention relates to anfimprovement in toys. More particularly it 'relates to a releasable or jumping gurine'toy, the operation `of which is dependent on the skill of the operator.

It is a prime object of this invention to'provide an improved releasable toy device whereina ligurine is resiliently ejectedfrom a rotating track section when a releasable` latch mechanism is engaged by a stationarypeg.

It is a more specific object' to provide an improved toy comprising `an oscillating or tilting and rotating table tiltable'byan operator and adapted to contain a plurality of` pegs, the table having an annular track which supports anv end of a radially-extending trackfsection, thetrack section beingconnected at"itsother4 end to the table for clockwiseor counterclockwise `rotation by means of a windup'mechaiiism, the track-section supporting a freely movable-by'gravity carriage on which a igurineisl supportedthe `figurine being ejected by a` spring latch when a latch member'engages `one of# the pegs during swinging movement of the tracksection.

These and further lobjects'will become more readily apparent during areadingof the specilication when examined in connection with the-accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is aplan view vofvan Iimprovedtoy or game device;

Figure 2 is a side elevationalview off the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 isa sectional view' taken along `the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure l is a detaill view' similar' to Figure 3, showing a figurine ejection'mechanism ina certain stage of operation; and

Figure 5 is across 'sectional' view taken along the line 5 5 ofFigure' 1.

Referring now particularly toFigures4 1 and 2 a toy apparatus or game'islgenerally'designated by the reference'character I0. The toy apparatus Il comprises a base'orsupport" II on which a pivot bracket |2'is mounted. lThef'pivot bracket i2 includes a socket I3. A' tablefldis positioned above the base II, the tablel I4 including apair oi handle mcmbersv'or/grips l5. A 'plate Iii-is suitably connected to the lower surface ofthe table M and a ball II-` issuitably connected Vto I'I fis positioned in the socket I3 so vthat lthe table -has `relative rotating andr tilting or oscillating motion With respect to the base I I.

An annular-track I8 -issuitably connected to the table I4 fby meansof'- a-plurality of= track ties I9.

-tive sliding relation. It is of course that lthe end support 2| could also suitably be 'relativefto the track 35.

l 43 over the recess of a -latch element 41. mayV be of a wire having 'suitably provided with a pair of laterally spaced recesses 22-which engage the track I8 in relaapparent provided with Wheels which would track on the Vtrack I8. The innermost end of the track section 2U .is provided with a spring lmotor mechanism 23. .The spring motor mechanism 23' can be of conventional construction adapted to rotate the tracksection-20 in` aclockwise or counterclockwise direction whichever is desired. The spring'motor mechanism 23 comprises a lower housing bracket 24 rigidly secured to the table The housing bracket 24 encloses a central pivot bracket 25 in which the lower end of a pivotally mounted. A ratchet 27 1s rigidly secured to the turnkey 26 the said ratchet 21 supporting an upper housing porwelding or other fasteningk means asindicated a't 3i) one end of the track section 2c. A suitable spiral spring 3| is suitably disposed Within the upper housing portion 28. The innermost end of the spring 3| is suitably connected to the turnkey 26 as indicated at 32. The outermost end of the-spring 3| is suitably connected as indicated at 33 to an arm 34 which isk also connected to the lower housing portion.

The track section 2U includes a track 355 which is provided with a pair of laterally spaced grooves 36. A carriage 38 is positioned for longitudinal movementron the track 35. The carriage 3S is provided with a'pair of laterally spaced sockets 39 inwhich are positioned ball bearings lit, the ball bearings 4U vbeing adapted to travel in the longitudinally extending grooves 3B. The carriage 38'is alsoprovided with a pair of Lshaped arms- 4|fwhichl are so disposed that they will limitthe'upward movement of the carriage 38 The carriage is providedwith an upwardly' extending'pedestal ft2 on which a toy animal 43 is supported. The toy animal 43 is provided at its uppermost end with a recess 44 in which a'blade spring l5 is posiu tioned. .-A gurine 56 is seated upon the animal 44 and on top of the blade spring 45. The spring .45` is normally held in a retracted position Within the recess lll by means The latch element i7 an upper hook arm i3 which is adapted to engage the spring 45 and hold it within the recess 44. The latch element 41 extends through a groove 49 in the track 35 and is provided at its lower end with a sleeve 50 which is loosely journalled on the lower end of said latch element 41. The lowermost end of the latch element 41 is provided with a T- member 5|. Rotation of the latch element 41 will rotate the hook away from holding engagement with the blade spring 45, whereupon the spring 45 springs upwardly. The two positions are shown in Figures 3 and 4. The latch element is easily rotated but a sufficiently tight nt between it and the animal 43 are provided so that it does not drop down any appreciable degree upon release of the spring 45.

The platform includes a plurality of openings 52 in which upwardly extending removable obstructions such as pegs 53 may be positioned.

During the operation the operator grasps the handles l5 of the table |4. The table I4 is so positioned that it can tilt or in other words oscillate on the base The table may also be rotated on the said base. The spring motor mechanism 23 may be wound up to wind up the coil spring 3| whereupon the track section 2li may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction. It must be understood that the spring mechanism can be of conventional design so that by reversing the position of the spring 3| the track section can also be operated in the clockwise direction. The direction in which the track section 20 pivots is not deemed important nor are the claims limited to clockwise but the term clockwise is used to include counterclockwise. On the table I4 a plurality of obstructions in the form of pegs 53 are provided. As the track section 20 is rotated any of the pegs 53 may be in the path of the carriage 38. The object of the game is to tilt the table |4 so that the carriage 38 moves out of the path of the obstructions 53 and this movement of the carriage 38 is accomplished by gravity upon tilting of the table. rIihus as the operator sees the track section 20 moving in a manner wherein the carriage is likely to come into contact with one of the obstructions 53 he tilts the table I4 in such a manner that the carriage 38 luy-passes the obstruction.

Should the operator fail to tilt the table I4 in such a manner that the carriage 38 is placed out of the path of the obstruction 53 then as indicated in Figure 4 the T-member 5| may be engaged by one of the obstructions 53 whereupon the latch element 41 is rotated and the hook arm 48 serves to release the blade spring 45 whereupon the iigure is ejected from the animal 43.

Longitudinal movement of the carriage 33 is limited on the track section 20 at one end by means of the housing portion 28 and at its other end by means of the end support 2i Thus it can be seen that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved and a new and improved toy game is provided. It must be understood that changes and modications may be made which do not depart from the spirit of the invention as disclosed norl from the scope thereof as dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the character described comprising a base, a table disposed above said base, means pivotally mounting said table for rotating and oscillating movement on said base, handle means on said table, an annular track on said table, a rotating track section having one end pivotally connected to a substantially `central Cil portion of said table, a track engaging member connected to the other end of said track section for engaging and being supported on said annular track, means connected to said track section for rotating said track section on its centrally pivoted connection, a carriage supported on said track section, said carriage being freely movable longitudinally on said track section during oscillating movement of said table, stop means on opposite ends of said track section for limiting the longitudinal movement of said carriage, a figure carried on said carriage, a resilient member on said carriage in contact with said figure, a latch element releasably locking said resilient member under tension, and a plurality of movably mounted obstacles on said table engageable with said latch element during rotation of said track section whereby said latch element is released and said resilient member ejects said iigure from said carriage.

2. A device of the character described comprising a base, a table disposed above said base, means pivotally mounting said table for rotating and oscillating movement on said base, handle means on said table, an annular track on said table, a rotating track section having one end pivotally connected to a substantially central portion of said table, a track engaging member connected to the other end of the track section for engaging and being supported on said annular track, means connected to said track section for rotating said track section on its centrally pivoted connection, a carriage supported on said track section, said carriage being freely movable longitudinally on said track section during oscillating movement of said table, a figure carried on said carriage, a resilient member on said carriage in contact with said figure, a latch element releasably locking said resilient member under tension, and a plurality of movably mounted obstacles on said table in engagement with said latch element during rotation of said track section whereby said latch element is released and said resilient member ejects said iigure from said carriage.

3. A device of the character described comprising a base, a table disposed above said base, means pivotally mounting said table for rotating and oscillating movement on said base, handle means on said table, an annular track on said table, a rotating track section having one end pivotally connected to a substantially central portion of said table, a track engaging member connected to the other end of said track section for engaging and being supported on said annular track, means connected to said track section for rotating said track section on its centrally pivoted connection, a carriage supported on said track section, said carriage being freely movable longitudinally on said track section during oscillating movement of said table, a gure carried on said carriage, a resilient member on said carriage in contact with said figure, a latch element releasably connected to said resilient member to lock the same under tension, and an obstacle on said table engageable with said latch element during rotation of said track section whereby said latch element is released and said resilient member engages and ej ects said iigure from said carriage.

4. A device of the character described comprising a base, a table disposed above said base, means pivotally mounting said table for rotating and oscillating movement on said base, handle means on said table, an annular track on said table, a rotating track section having one end pivotally connected to a substantially central portion of said table, a track engaging member connected to the other end of said track section for engaging and being supported on said annular track, means connected to said track section for rotating said track section on its centrally pivoted connection, a carriage supported on said track section, said carriage being freely movable longitudinally on said track section during oscillating movement of said table, stop means on opposite ends of said track section for limiting the longitudinal movement of said carriage, a responsive element on said carriage, an obstacle on said table, and means on said carriage connected to said responsive means, said means being engageable with said obstacle during rotation of said track section whereby said responsive element 1s actuated.

5. A device of the character described comprising a base, a generally horizontal table connected to said base for relative rotatingr and oscillating movement, an annular track on said table, a rotating track section, means pivotally connecting one end of said track section to said table whereby said section may be rotated in clockwise f-ashion, power means connected to said track section for rotating the same, a track section support connected to the second end of said track section for supporting said second end on said annular track during rotation, a carriage carried on said track section for longitudinal movement in response to gravity during oscillation of said table, a gure seated on said carriage, a spring means on said carriage, a releasable latch member on said carriage engageable with said spring means for holding said spring means in a tensioned position, and a movably mounted obstacle on said table, said obstacle being engageable with said latch member during rotation of said track section whereby said spring means is released to engage and eject said figure from said carriage.

6. A device of the character described comprising a base, a generally horizontal table connected to said base for relative rotating and oscillating movement, a rotating track section, means pivotally connecting one end of said track section to said table whereby said section may be rotated in clockwise fashion, power means connected to said track section for rotating the same, a track section support connected to the second end of said track section for supporting said second end on said table during rotation, a carriage carried on said track section for longitudinal movement in response to gravity during oscillation of said table, a figure seated on said carriage, a spring means on said carriage, a releasable latch member on said carriage engageable with said spring, means for holding said spring means in a tensioned position, and a movably mounted obstacle on said table, said obstacle being engageable with said latch member during rotation of said track section whereby said spring means is released to engage and eject said ligure from said carriage.

'7. A device of the character described comprising a base, a generally horizontal table connected to said base for relative rotating and oscillating movement, a rotating track section, means pivotally connecting one end of said track section to said table whereby said section may be rotated in clockwise fashion, power means connected to said track section for rotating the same, a carriage carried on said track section for longitudinal movement in response to gravity during oscillation of said table, a figure seated on said carriage, a spring means on said carriage, a releasable latch member on said carriage engageable with said spring means for holding said spring means in a tensioned portion, and a movably mounted obstacle on said table, said obstacle being engageable with said latch member during rotation of said track section whereby said spring means is released to engage and eject said ligure from said carriage.

8. A device of the character described comprising a base, a generally horizontal table connected to said base for relative rotating and oscillating movement, a rotating track section having one end pivotally connected to said table whereby said track section may be rotated in clockwise fashion, a carriage on said track section, said carriage being longitudinally movable by gravity on said track section during oscillation of said table, a figure carried by said carriage, ejection means on said carriage engaging said ngure, a movably mounted obstacle on said table, and actuating means on said ejection means engageable with said obstacle during rotation of said track section whereby said ejection means ejects said figure from said carriage.

9. A. device of the character described comprising an oscillating and rotatable table, a rotating track section having one end pivotally oonnected to said table whereby said track section may be rotated in clockwise fashion, a carriage on said track section, said carriage being longitudinally movable by gravity on said track section during oscillation of said table, a gure carried by said carriage, ejection means on said carriage engaging said gure, an obstacle on said table, and actuating means on said ejection means engageable with said obstacle during rotation of said track section whereby said ejection means ejects said figure from said carriage.

10. A device of the character described comprising an oscillating and rotatable table, a rotating track section having one end pivotally connected to said table whereby said track section may be rotated in clockwise fashion, a carriage on said track section, said carriage being longitudinally movable by gravity on said track section during oscillation of said table, a responsive means on said carriage, an actuating element on said carriage and connected to said responsive means, and at least one obstacle on said table engageable with said actuating element during rotation of said track section whereby said responsive means is actuated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,469,071 Veaup Mar. 7, 1922 1,591,521 Esser July 6, 1926 1,661,865 Zabel Mar. 6, 1928 2,098,417 Fisher Nov. 9, 1937 2,225,411 Feltman Dec. 17, 1940 2,634,547 Olson Apr. 14, 1953 

